Teachers in Oyo State have been cautioned by the Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Nureni Adeniran, against collecting illegal levies in public schools. Adeniran stated that any staff member found engaging in this practice would face consequences.
Recent reports have revealed that certain teachers were forcing pupils to pay for the ongoing second term unified promotion examination in public primary schools.
During the monitoring of the examination exercise in Ibadan, the state capital, Adeniran emphasized that the current government has taken the responsibility of printing question-and-answer sheets for the unified examination exercise since its inception.
He further highlighted that the government has ensured strict adherence to the examination timetable by all schools in the state.
In his statement, Adeniran mentioned, “The government eliminated the need for pupils and students to pay fees in public schools due to the discovery of illegal fee impositions by some staff members. I urge parents and guardians to report any instances of unauthorized fee collection to the board.”
Adeniran apologized to parents and guardians whose children were compelled to bring money for examinations, emphasizing that this directive did not come from the board. He urged affected parents to report such teachers to the board and assured that the examination exercise has been well facilitated without charge.
He stressed, “We are dedicated to providing free and compulsory universal basic education, therefore, any school or head teacher caught imposing or collecting unapproved levies will face consequences.”
Adeniran lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for consistently meeting the state counterpart fund obligations with the Universal Basic Education Commission, enabling the board to access and utilize funds for infrastructural and personnel development.
He also praised the efficient conduct of examinations at the visited centers.
The schools inspected on Tuesday included Community Basic School 1&2, Olorunsogo; Community Primary School, Olosunde; Atolu Model School 1-4, Oremeji, among others. Those visited on Thursday were UAMC School, Eleja, Odo-Ona; AUD Primary School; UMC Basic School, Oke-Ado; Abiola Jacobs Schools 1,2,3; and Army Children School, Iwo-road.